Quenching tank



Dec. 9', 1930. H. w. FLETCHER 1,784,095

QUENCHING TANK Filed May 15, 1928 Q) TOR BY V ATTORNEY l atented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD W. FLETCHER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGN'OR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF-TEXAS QUENCHING TANK Application filed May 15, 1928. Serial No. 277,818.

My invention relates to quenching tanks to be employed particularly in cooling metal tools after they have been heat treated.

The particular feature of novelty in my invention lies in the unitary character of the quenching device, obtained by forming a selfcontained installation wherein the oil or other liquid employed in cooling may be circulated and cooled for reuse within the tank structure. The device may thus be made portable in an obvious manner.

It is also an object of the invention to form an efficient and economical construction of a cooling chamber, and means to circulate the oil therethrough.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the device taken longitudinally thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the cooler taken on the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises an outer container 1 of oblong rectangular shape. It is preferably made of metal and is divided longitudinally by two partitions including top rails 2 and sheet metal walls 2 extending from said rails to the floor of the container, thus providing a central chamber 3 and two side compartments 4. The central chamber is larger than the two side compartments and is adapted to contain a basket 5 of fol-aminated material which may be of woven wire or perforated sheet metal. Handles 6 are provided on the basket whereby it may be raised or lowered into the chamber 3.

at 11, thus allowing a free circulation of liquid from the central chamber into the ends of the compartments. At the forward end of the tank the openings 11 discharge between the partitions 8 and the end wall of the conplates.

in contact with the side walls .ing up itsheat to the water circulating tainer, and the fluid is circulated through the opening 9 by means of a propeller.

The propeller 12 is of ordinary construction and is mounted upon a shaft 13 connected with a motor 14 by means of which. it is rotated. The shaft 13 has a fluid tight hearing within a sleeve 15 extending through the end wall of the container.

Means are provided in the two side compartments 4 for cooling the liquid as it is circulated through said compartments. This means comprises a plurality of cells or chambers 16. which are constructed by side walls 17 of metal plates spaced apart by spacers 18 fixed upon bolts or rivets 19 extending transversely across the space between two I have shown three cells in each'of the compartments. The cells are closed at their ends and on the lower side by means of plates 20 and the separate cells are held at spaced relation by plates 21 at the lower end and 22 at the upper end. At each end of the cooling device I provide a header 23 which is connected with the upper ends of the three cells 16 on its lower side and on the other side it has connection with a flow pipe 24 which extends laterally over the side wall of the tank and is then directed downwardly at 25 for connection with a source of cooling liquid under pressure and it is contemplated that under ordinary circumstances it will have connection with the water'main in that locality. A'header 23 is provided at each' end of each set of cells and it is to be understood that the water circulates into one end through the cells and out the other end in an obvious manner.

In the operation of this. device, which have been heat treated, such as tools of different kinds, are quenched by dropping them into the basket 5. The cooling liquid in the tank is preferably oil. It is circulated by means of a propeller in the directionshown by the arrows, passing longitudinally of the chamber 3and through the ends of partition 2 into the cooling chambers 4 where it comes of cells 16 givobjects through the cooler. It then is drawn around the forward side of the partitions 7 and completes the circuit into the chamber 3. When the tools have been sufiiciently cooled the basket may be raised and the tools removed and the device is ready for a repetition of this quenching operation.

The advantages of this device lie in its unitary character whereby the quenching tank may be moved from place to place if desired, it only being necessary to maintain a connection between the cooler and source of supply of cooling water. Furthermore the construction of the cooler itself is extremely eiiicient and economical in use. The pro *ision for circulating of the oil through the apparatus in the manner described results in a uniform application of oil to the objects to be quenched so that a desirable temperature may be obtained at all times. Further advantages of the device will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Having thus descrihed 'my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A quenching device including a container, having a central chamber therein, a basket in said chamber, cooling comparments one at each side of said chamber, cells in said compartments through which a coolin liquid may be circulated, and means to cause a circulation of the liquid in said chamber in continuous currents through said compartments and back into said chamber.

2. A quenching device including a container, having a central chamber therein, a basket in said chamber, cooling compartments one at each side of said chamber, cells in said compartments through which a cooling liquid may be circulated, and means comprising a propeller at one end of said container, to cause a circulation of the liquid in said chamber in continuous currents through said compartments and back into said chamher.

3. A quenching device including a container divided longitudinally into a central chamber and two lateral compartments, a series of cells in said compartments through which cooling liquid may be circulated, partitionsbetween said central chamber and said compartments open at the ends of the container, and a propeller at one end of said central chamber to circulate the liquid in said compartments and said central chamher.

4. A quenching device including a container divided longitudinally into a central chamber and two lateral compartments, a series of cells in said compartments through which cooling liquid may be circulated, said cells comprising spaced plates secured together to enclose fluid containing chambers, and headers connected with said chambers to allow fluid to circulate therethrough, partitions between said central chamber and said compartments open at the ends of the container, and a propeller at one end of said central chamber to circulate the liquid in said compartments and said central chamber.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aifix my signature this the 9 day of May, A. D. 1928.

HAROLD W. FLETCHER. 

